What year is my merc 850 85hp motor

[bcrock]

Hi, I am having trouble finding the year to my Mercury 850 85 hp motor. I looked up all the links in the sticky bookmark "what year is my boat motor" and still can't find the answer. All the serial numbers listed on the links start with a number. Mine starts with two 0's. Serial Number # 0054703 Thanks!

 

[carholme]

Re: What year is my merc 850 85hp motor

S/n is not making much sense, are you sure the first two are zeroes? Could you double check the numbers and is it possible that the first 0 could be a 9?

Is it is 4 or 6 cylinder?

Gerry

 

[bcrock]

Re: What year is my merc 850 85hp motor

Hi Gerry, thanks for helping. I went back and re looked at the numbers, the first digit looks to be a 3, but just worn out. Here is a image I attached of the s/n plae. So I'm guessing it will be 3054703? Still that doesn't fall in the range of any of the models listed in the links.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: What year is my merc 850 85hp motor

How many cylinders? Distributor ignition? What colors on the cowling?

 

[bcrock]

Re: What year is my merc 850 85hp motor

How many cylinders? Distributor ignition? What colors on the cowling?

It is a 4 cylinder, I dont know about the distributor ignition, I'm new to owning a boat. The color of the cowling is mostly black with the blue looking stripe thing on top of the mercury logo. The front cover plate says thunderbolt ignition kiekhaefer mercury.

 

[oldman570]

Re: What year is my merc 850 85hp motor

If the motor has a welch plug in the block, it should have the SR# stamped in it and should match the one on the transom bracket. There is a good chance that the motor has had been worked on before and parts could have been changed. JMO
Oldman570

 

[carholme]

Re: What year is my merc 850 85hp motor

If it is indeed an 85 hp, it would be:

85 1964 S&L 1648888 - UP

From here:

MERCURY OUTBOARD MODEL YEAR GUIDE 60 HP - 100 HP -- Mastertech Marine

But somehow, your description of the colouring doesn't match up. If it is a 1964, I doubt it would have the welch plug as I don't think that started until the early to mid '70s.

What is telling you that it is an 85hp?

Gerry

 

[bcrock]

Re: What year is my merc 850 85hp motor

I Will take a picture of the motor later.

 

[Maxz695]

Re: What year is my merc 850 85hp motor

That first number looks as if it could be a 3 an 8 or a 6

 

[carholme]

Re: What year is my merc 850 85hp motor

Were are you located? If it were an 8, that would make it an Australian built engine.

Gerry

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: What year is my merc 850 85hp motor

On the earlier motors (before the introduction of the welch plugs), the S/N may also be found stamped into one of the different mounting brackets bolted onto the main block.

One of my 71 Merc 800 motors has the number stamped on the upper starter motor mount, and my other has it stamped on the distributor mounting bracket. Could be worth a look to see if the S/N is stamped elswhere on your motor.

 

[bcrock]

Re: What year is my merc 850 85hp motor




Here are some pictures of the motor

 

[bcrock]

Re: What year is my merc 850 85hp motor

Were are you located? If it were an 8, that would make it an Australian built engine.

Gerry

Im here from USA, it also says wisconsin usa on the serial number plate

 

[electricjohn]

Re: What year is my merc 850 85hp motor

The 4 cylinder 85 was introduced in 1973. Prior to that it was an 80. My '73 had a blue trimmed cowling, but it did not look like yours.

 

[electricjohn]

Re: What year is my merc 850 85hp motor

Here is the best picture I have of my motor. Motor was retired in 1988. Picture is from the mid 70's.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: What year is my merc 850 85hp motor

Well, the front cover looks to be not the same vintage as the wrap cowling, looks older. The electrical wiring is customized, and the PTT cylinders look a bit different that I thought they should. How about apicture with the wrap cowling removed. if we see a distributor that places the motor at 1974 or earlier. If four coils instead, the motor is a bit newer. I still think it is early-mid 70s.

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: What year is my merc 850 85hp motor

From this unofficial site, you may have a 76-77 model year based on the side cowling decal design.

Agreed that the front cover looks out of place. Looks to be from a 68-69 model year.

Lets see it with it cloths off

Antique and Classic Outboard Motor Paint & Decals

 

[electricjohn]

Re: What year is my merc 850 85hp motor

66's and 67's were trimmed with gold. 68's and 69's were trimmed in silver. 70, 71's and maybe 72's were red. 73's were blue. After 73, I lost track. The OP's motor looks like a Frankenmotor.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: What year is my merc 850 85hp motor

'76 or '77 motor would have a bit of red under the end of the blue stripes on the wrap cowl. It could have faded......get her naked and let's have a look...

 

[Faztbullet]

Re: What year is my merc 850 85hp motor

Looks like your going to find that its a silver block 1971 80hp with 85hp 1974 cowlings and the original front cover,alsp that is a CDI wiring harness plugged into cowling.